How life has changed in Ribble Valley

Ribble Valley's population increased by about 3,200 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population passed 57,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Ribble Valley increased by 5.9%, from almost 54,000 to 57,100.

The addition of almost 3,200 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ribble Valley was home to, on average, 0.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was lower than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Ribble Valley

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Ribble Valley increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This area had a higher average age than the North West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 1,900 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just over 2,000.

About 14.0% of people in Ribble Valley are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Ribble Valley by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Ribble Valley

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Ribble Valley was among those who said they had no religion, rising 6.8 points.

In 2011, 15.5% of respondents in Ribble Valley gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 8.7% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion and described themselves as having no religion increased from 11.3% to 21.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Ribble Valley, 83.1% said they were Christian, compared with 90.2% in 2001. About 0.8% said they were Muslim, compared with 0.6% a decade prior.

In Ribble Valley, 6.0% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 5.4% in 2001. Across the North West, 6.2% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population that said they had no religion in Ribble Valley increased by 6.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, North West and Ribble Valley by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Ribble Valley working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16.6% to 12.6% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.2%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.1% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Ribble Valley decreased by 4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Ribble Valley, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Ribble Valley

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership increased in Ribble Valley, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West, except South Lakeland.

Every local authority area across the North West saw a rise in the proportion of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership, as the regional average grew from 30.1% to 35.6%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changing work life

The rate of self-employment increased in Ribble Valley, but at a slower rate than all other local authority areas in the North West, except Blackpool and Eden.

Across the North West, the proportion of self-employed people increased from 7.1% to 8.2% between the last two censuses, while the proportion in Pendle (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Ribble Valley) increased from 8.2% to 8.9%.

The rate of self-employment was higher than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were self-employed across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Ribble Valley

In 2011, 97.9% of Ribble Valley residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.4% in 2001.

Across the North West, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups decreased from 94.4% to 90.2%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.3% of people in Ribble Valley said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 1.0% in 2001. About 0.6% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.4% a decade prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.1% to 0.2%.

There are many factors that can cause changes to the ethnic profile of an area, such as differing patterns of ageing or of moving to or from an area for work or education. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Ribble Valley remained close to 97.9%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Ribble Valley by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Ribble Valley

The percentage of Ribble Valley residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.6% to 3.1% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 8.3%, while the percentage of Ribble Valley residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability remained close to 88.6%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Ribble Valley, but at a slower rate than in nearby Pendle.

In Ribble Valley, the proportion of private renting increased from 9.1% in 2001 to 13.6% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Pendle increased from 9.9% to 18.1%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15.4%.

The rate of social housing in Ribble Valley remained close to 7.6%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 81.0% to 76.6%.

Private renting in Ribble Valley increased by 4.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ribble Valley, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Ribble Valley residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.9% to 4.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83.7%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71.6% in 2001. The percentage of Ribble Valley residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20.5% to 12.3%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11.0% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Ribble Valley decreased by 3.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Ribble Valley, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Ribble Valley, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.0% to 8.5% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 3 in 10 (28.9%) households had only one person, compared with 27.1% in 2001. The percentage of households in Ribble Valley which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 43.9% to 39.3%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 7.9% in 2001 to 9.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Ribble Valley with children decreased from 29.5% to 28.3% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over 6 in 10 (61.9%) households had no children, compared with 60.6% in 2001. The percentage of households in Ribble Valley with only adult children living with their parents remained close to 9.9%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 30.4% in 2001 to 28.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Ribble Valley residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.1% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 1.7%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Ribble Valley remained close to 1.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Ribble Valley by care, March 2001 and March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links